Abstract
Despite poor economic conditions, Malawi has achieved the United Nations 95-95-95 goals to achieve HIV/AIDS epidemic control. One factor scholars suggest made this possible is the diplomatic leadership approach employed by The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The diplomatic leadership approach is Ambassador-to-Ambassador diplomatic engagement with host country governments and the coordination of U.S. government agencies to implement HIV/AIDS programs. This paper examined the role of the United States government’s diplomatic leadership approach, public health interventions implemented through PEPFAR, and donor coordination in reaching HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malawi. Additionally, proposed solutions for PEPFAR moving forward were considered including congressional reauthorization, targeted public health interventions, and continued congressional appropriations. Lastly, potential challenges related to a lack of consensus on foreign aid and a divided body politic in the United States and recent decisions made by the new presidential administration were considered.
Keywords: PEPFAR, HIV/AIDS, Congress, Malawi